THE ENTOLAB NODE
A growing system.
A weekly rhythm.
Commercial trays. Proposed climate control. Explore one node, then see how a farm shares the work.
Interactive concept · assumptions visibleGastronorm (GN) 1/1 pans use published outer dimensions of 530 × 325 mm on proposed removable runners. Different trays hold cohorts at different growth stages; runner fit and rearing suitability need validation.
530 × 325 × 65 mm · 60 mm proposed clear gap01 / FEED
Add feed and inspect
The weekly visit includes adding feed and inspecting each cohort—a group of larvae at a similar growth stage. The dark tray is the one being serviced.
- Temperature target
- 28°C
- Relative humidity target
- 65% RH
- Air circulation target
- 24m³/h
- Loaded trays
- 12GN 1/1
- Estimated weekly harvest
- 1.35kg live larvae
- Estimated operator time
- 38min / weekly visit
Model estimate · unvalidated operating assumptions
Explore manual feeding, proposed air circulation, cohort growth and a weekly harvest visit. Hardware integration and operating performance remain unvalidated.
Drag the top tray or hold ↑ / ↓ on the drawing; ← / → change stages. Hold the feed button, Space or F to demonstrate feeding.
On the tray slider, arrow keys move the tray; Home closes and End opens. Animated feeding does not change the output estimate.
Edit assumptions Shared by the node, 3D view and farm
Yield12 trays ÷ 6 weeks × 0.75 kg × 90% = 1.35 kg / week
Time10 min + 12 × 1.5 min + 2 × 5 min = 38 min / visit
Weekly output is an average for staggered cohorts with continuously occupied trays and a new cohort after each completed stage. Climate targets and animated feeding do not change the biomass calculation; all operating values need pilot validation.
What the model includes
Biomass Fractional ready-tray counts are averages across visits. Nursery biomass transfers to grow-out; larval harvest is not modeled for pupation.
Feed Weekly additions exclude the initial substrate charge. This model does not estimate feed conversion or substrate moisture.
Time Each node has one visit every seven days, plus shared farm handling on days with scheduled visits. Start-up, breeding supply, drying and packing time are excluded.
Climate Targets are assumptions, with no live sensor readings or validated control performance. Circulation is recirculated volume, not fresh-air exchange; tracer paths and speed are illustrative.
Input ranges Minimums and maximums bound this interactive model. They are not validated rearing limits or recommended operating ranges.
Choosing a scenario loads its tray count, stage duration, biomass and feed assumptions. Pan depth changes the proposed shelf spacing; rack integration and the mesh insert need validation.
Reset restores the default grow-out scenario and all node and farm assumptions
INSIDE THE UNIT
Take it apart.
See how it fits.
Rotate the Node, separate its assemblies, then build it from the base up. Commercial pan dimensions meet proposed rack and climate hardware.
Illustrated assembly order · proposed
03 / COMMERCIAL DIMENSIONS
Commercial GN pans
These illustrated pans use HENDI’s published GN 1/1 outer dimensions of 530 × 325 mm; depth and count follow your selected scenario. Runner fit and suitability for mealworm rearing still need validation.
Counts describe drawing elements, not manufacturing parts
Blue tracers follow the proposed route from the fan down the supply duct, across the shelf gaps and up the return duct to the filter. They illustrate direction, not measured speed or climate uniformity.
Assumed targets: 28°C / 65% RH / 24 m³/h
Scroll to the figure to load the 3D view; you can explore the cutaway while it loads
Catalogue pan dimensions inform this assembly concept; all rack and climate integration remains proposed. This is an explanation of the design, not a fabrication plan.
Explore the 3D controls
Exploded separates the illustrated assemblies; Isolate assembly shows the selected group on its own. Reset camera restores rotation and zoom and leaves isolation.
Show interior hides selected covers; Show airflow reveals the blue tracers. Pause animation stops tracer motion while keeping the entered circulation target.
Drag to rotate, or hold arrow keys on the 3D view; press E to separate, A to assemble, or Home to reset the camera. On touch, drag horizontally and use Zoom for a closer look.
Tracers fade when the illustrated assemblies separate. Reassemble the view to show circulation; airflow uniformity and climate control still need testing.
From one node to a farm
Many nodes. One operating rhythm.
The draft plan links StartBatch cohort supply, NodeKit rearing hardware and GrowOS batch records. This figure illustrates shared visits and a release check across the farm.
Select a cabinet to inspect its modeled weekly visit.
Front service area: sieve and receiving bin on the left, feed cart in the middle, shared monitoring console on the right. Physical handling is manual; the shared workflow is proposed.
Farm drawing matches your assumptions
- Loaded farm trays
- 144
- Estimated weekly harvest
- 16.20kg / week
- Estimated operator time
- 8.6h / week
- Weekly feed added
- 17.28kg / week
Steady-state estimate · same selected tray scenario in every node · all labor assumptions unvalidated
A weekly service plan
Stagger the visits.
Keep each cohort traceable.
Highlighted nodes share a service day in this example. Cleaning, cohort transfer and batch records are planned tasks; hygiene zoning and washing capacity need separate design.
Planned / StartBatch → NodeKit → GrowOS
From cohort to commercial lot
The ENT-LIVE-01 draft requires origin, producing node and tray, approved inputs, harvest record, grade and quality checks (QC) before branded release. GrowOS would aggregate forecasts while preserving each source batch.
These states illustrate a whole-farm release gate, assuming every source lot shares the selected state. The figure does not perform checks or show actual released stock.
The held example counts no released supply while checks remain incomplete; the harvest forecast is unchanged
Illustrative GrowOS record
- Biological origin · example
- DEMO-SB-001 · StartBatch
- Selected service group
- N01–N04
- Tray format
- GN 1/1 · 65 mm
- Input record · example
- DEMO-FEED-001
- Whole-farm output forecast
- 16.20 kg / week · harvest assumption
- Release state · example
- Held · checks incomplete
- Whole-farm release example
- 0.00 kg / week · simulated
Output and release totals cover all nodes, not just the selected service group
Every node uses the same tray scenario and operating assumptions. Farm time adds each node’s weekly visit and shared handling on scheduled service days, with no assumed automation saving.
Farm layout and infrastructure limits
The layout assumes 1 m clear service aisles; it is not a building plan. Breeding supply, room heating, ventilation and cooling, washing, processing, hygiene zoning and energy demand need separate sizing.
Each node has its own assumed climate targets. The console illustrates shared monitoring; a control network has not been validated.
View design basis
GN pans, three depths
HENDI Kitchen Line GN 1/1 ↗ lists 530 × 325 mm outer dimensions and depths of 40 / 65 / 100 mm, articles 806111 / 806128 / 806135. Runner fit and insect-rearing suitability need validation.
A serviceable rack
The concept adds removable runners, a fan, filter, air passages, temperature and relative humidity sensing, controller, reservoir, mesh insert and harvest sieve. Entolab drafts describe NodeKit without specifying this cabinet or tray integration.
Insect-specific trays
Beekenkamp 6205 ↗ has external dimensions of 600 × 400 × 145 mm and is made from polypropylene. It requires a different rack; it is not interchangeable with the illustrated GN 1/1 pans.
Traceability before release
The ENT-LIVE-01 draft ↗ and network strategy ↗ describe StartBatch, NodeKit, GrowOS and quality release. Their acceptance limits still require validation.